Machine for separating shoes from lasts



Dec. 13, 1938. E. A. BESSOM MACHINE FOR SEPARATING SHOES FROM LASTS Filed July 14, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 13, 1933. E. A. BEssoM 291399653 I MACEINE FOR SEPARATING SHOES FROM L A STS Filed July 14,' 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Figz Dec. 13,1938. E. A. BESSOM 2,139,658

MACHINE FOR SEPARATING SHOES FROM LASTS Filed July 14, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig.5.

bracket 48 to limit forward swinging movement of the links 44.

Pivotally connected by pins 64 to the arms of the frame 32 are a pair of parallel spaced push rods 06 which extend downwardly and rearwardly from the pins 64 at an angle of about thirty degrees from the vertical- Theloweriends' of the push rods 66 are pivotally connected by pins 68 to the rear end of a yoke-shaped lever I which embraces the column I8 and which is fulcrumed upon a pin I2 mounted in thelower portion-of- Pivotally connected by a pin I4 the head 20. to the forward end of the lever I0 is a rod I6 having its lower end pivotally connected by a pin I8 to a treadle 80 which is fulcrumed upon a pin 82 mounted in the base I6. having its lower end anchored in the base I B and its upperend secured to the lever I0'te'ndsto hold the push rods 66 down and the treadle 80v up, with the stop screw 56 against the abutformed on its lower end which is received in a recess 94 in the abutment. A p'air'of screws 96 threaded through the abutment engage the ball 92 to prevent Withdrawal of the same from the abutment. The abutment 90 has its under surface padded with a disk of leather. which, in turn, is covered with a disk I00 of fibre composition. The abutment 90 normally rests upon a table I02 extending rearwardly from the head 20, the under surface of the fibre disk- I00 being in sliding engagement with the upper surface of the table. The screw 88 is provided with a knob I04 by which it may be turned to adjust the height of the pad I2 relatively .to the shoe S. In order to retain the screw in any given position of adjustment the screw has a plurality of grooves I06 formed in .the threaded portion of its shank, these grooves being engageable by a spring-pressed plunger I08 mounted. in the frame 32.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the frame 32 is supported at its forward end by the studs 42 and at its rear end by the adjustable abutment 90. The frame 32 is free to swing upwardly about the studs 42; In order to provide a limit to such upward movement of the frame 32 one of the forwardly extending arms of the frame has formed in it a lug II.0 through The links.

which is threaded a stop screw H2. 44, as will be evident upon inspection of Fig. 1,

do not extend in a straight line'from the pin 46.

to the studs 42 but are L-shaped, the long bar of in the drawings by the reference character. II4, extending upwardly and forwardly to the studs 42. On one of the bars H4 is formed an abutment II6 which is engaged by the end of the screw II2 to limit further swinging movement of the frame 32 about the studs 42. Upon each of the forwardly extending arms of the frame 32 is a plate II8 having formed in it a groove I20 having beveled walls. The edges of the plate II8 are beveled, as indicated by the reference character I22. In each of the bars H4 is mounted a spring-pressed plunger I24. When the frame 32 swings upwardly about the studs 42 and is approaching the'limit of its movement in that A tension spring 84 direction the spring-pressed plunger I 24 will ride up on the bevel I22 and then engage the groove I20. The adjustment of the screw I I2 should be such as to limit further swinging movement upon such engagement of the groove I20 by the plunger I24. The frame 32 is thus yieldingly locked against movement'in a reverse direction for a reason which will later be explained.

In the operation of the machine the last L with a shoe S mounted thereon is placed in in- The screw 88 should be adjusted to bring the friction pad verted position on the last pin I0.

I2 to a desired height relatively to the rear end of the shoe upper. Depression of the treadle 80 will cause the push rods to transmit to the frame 32 a thrust having upward and forward components, the relative magnitudes of which will be proportional to the cosine and the sine, respectively, of the angle which the push rods make to the vertical. As this angle is in the neighborhood of thirty. degrees (varying somewhat slightly as the movement progresses) it will be evident that while the vertical component exceeds the horizontal component, the latter is nevertheless in substantial proportion to the former. As the treadle 80 is depressed, the principal resistance to the thrust of the push rods 66 will be the result of friction and will be relatively slight. This resistance will be overcome by the horizontal component of thrust in the push rods, and the frame 32 will advance, with the disk I00 sliding over the table I02 and the friction pad I2 approaching the rear end of the shoe upper. It will be observed that the line of thrust of the push rods comes relatively close to the fulcrmn 42 of the frame 32. The center of gravity of the frame, on the other hand, is a considerable distance from the fulcrum 42. The weight of the frame 32 and its associated parts will therefore be more than sufficient to over-balance the relatively slight upward component of thrust of the push rods during this period of the operation, and the disk I00 will remain in contact with the table I02 as the frame advances. This forward movement of the frame 32 is terminated by the engagement of the pad I2 with the heel end of the shoe upper. As the pad comes into contact with the shoe the operator feels an increased resistance from the treadle. The thrust in the push rods increases, and with the increase of the horizontal component the pad, which has centered itself relatively to the shoe, is compressed against the shoe, conforming to the exact contour of the shoe. Further forward movement of the frame 32 is now impossible, and the operator is enabled, through the treadle, to develop a considerably greater thrust in the push rods, causing this thrust to build up to a point where it is sufficient to overcome the weight of the frame 32. The frame 32 now tends to swing upwardly about the fulcrum 42. The relatively heavy pressure of the pad I2 against the shoe, however, causes the pad to grip the shoe frictionally with a force sufficient to prevent relative slip. Further downward movement of the treadle raises the frame 32 about its fulcrum, and the pad I2 draws the rear portion of the shoe upwardly off the last. The operator, if a jointed last is being used, may assist-the removal of'the rear portion of the shoe by pressing downwardly upon the sole of the shoe to break the last.

As soon as the heel end of the shoe clears the heel end of the last, the frame 32 is again free to move forwardly under the influence of the forward component of thrust in the push rods.

Continued downward movement of the treadle therefore causes'the pad 12 to push the shoe forwardly off the :last. The operator, grasping the forepartof the shoe, may complete the removal of the shoe with little or no effort. The forward movement of the frame32 .is finally arrested by the engagement of the stop screw 58 with the abutment $2. The frame :32 will then swing upwarrlly about :the studs M until the stop screw l 52 engages the abutment H1B,'.as shown in Fig. l.

"The screw H2 is so adjusted as to stop the frame just :as the :plungers 12 snap into the beveled groove 122 .to latch the frame yieldingly in upward position relatively to the links is. Upon :release of the treadle, the spring 3 will draw the push rods downwardly, causing the frame 32 iandwith 'it the .links 44 to swing as a unit :rearwardly about the pin 45. The frame 32, only by reason of the fact that it is held up by thetplungers fllgwill iclearthe last in its rearward movement. the :stopscrew 56 engages the abutment 5?! .the rearward swinging movement of the links 48 will be arrested suddenly. The inertia of the frame 32., :however, .aided by the downward :pull oftthe spring 84 and by the weight of'theframe, will be'effective to free the beveled grooves 122 from "the plungers mt, thereby enabling the :frame to swing downwardly about the studs-42 until athe abutment Si! engages the table m. The operator now removes the last frnm the last :pin "Hi, leaving the machine in readiness for another operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim :as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 11f :the United States .is

.1. A machine .for effecting relative movement between shoes and lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a member adapted frictionally ito engagethe shoe, a carrier for said friction member, an armnpon which said carrier iszpivotallysmounted, a pivotal support for said arm, a rod pivotally connected to said carrier, and means for urging said rod .in .a direction having ahei'ghtwise and a lengthwise component with respect "to the shoe to cause said shoe-engaging membertomovethe shoeupwardly and forwardly o'iT thellast, saidlengthwise component being suificient 'to develop a frictional gripping pressure between ashes-engaging member and the shoe.

2. ,Aimachine for separating shoes from lasts comprising-,aisupport :fioraa last with a shoe thereon, amem'ber adapted frictionally to engage the shoe, a carrier for said friction member, an arm upon'which said carrier is pivotally mounted, a pivotalsupport for said arm, a rod .pivotally connected to said carrier, aatreadle, and positive connections betwe'en said treadleand said rod constructed and arranged to transmit through said rod-to said can ieriaforce' having a forward com ponent relatively 'to'the shoe sufficient to deveiop a frictional gripping-pressure of the shoe-engaging memberagainstthe shoe and having a height- Wise component'relatively to the shoe to cause the shoe-engaging member tomove the shoe upwardlyffrom the last.

'3. Amachin'e for separating shoes from lasts comprising a'support fora last with a shoe thereon, amember adapted frictionally to engage the shoe, acarrier for said friction member, an arm upon which said carrier is pivotally mounted, a pivotal support for said arm, a rod pivotally connected to said carrier, means for supporting said carrier tomaintain said :pad at a predetermined "height for presentation to the shoe, and means for urging said rod'in 'a direction having a forwardcomponent withrespect to the shoe sufficient to bring-the shoe-engaging member, as the arm swings forwardly about-said pivotal support, into frictional gripping engagement with the shoe and having a height-wise component which, when the lengthwise movement of the shoe-engaging means is arrested byengagement with the shoe, causes the shoe-engaging member to raise the shoe from the last.

4. A machine for separating shoes from lasts comprising a support fora last'witha shoe thereon, a friction pad, means for supporting said pad at a predetermined .heightwise position relatively to said last support, means for adjusting said supporting means to vary said predetermined height, a treadle, and mechanism for transmitting from said treadle to said pad .a force which operates first to bring the pad while in said predetermined heightwise position into frictional engagement the shoe and then, while pressing the pad against the shoe, to raise the pad from said predetermined heightwise position to separate the shoe :from the :last.

5. A machine for separating shoes from lasts comprising aisupport fora last with a shoe thereon, a shoe-removingtool, means :for supporting said shoe-removing tool :at .a predetermined heightwise position relatively said .last support, means foradjustingzsaid supporting means to vary said predetermined height, :a treadle, mechanism for transmitting a force "from said treadle to said shoe-removing tool, and means for controlling the movement of said shoe-removing tool under the influence of said force to cause the shoe-removing tool while in said predetermined heightwise position to :come .into operative position relatively "to the shoe and then :to raise the shoe-removing :tool from said predetermined heightwise position (to separate the shoe from the last.

6. A machine for separating shoes from lasts comprising a support fora lastwithashoethereon, a shoe-removing :tool, mechanism for supporting said shoe-removingxtool, '.a rod pivotally connected to said supporting mechanism, and means for transmittingthrough said rod :to said supporting mechanism a force having a component acting in a direction to bring the shoeremoving tool into frictional gripping engagement with the shoe and :a component acting in a direction to cause the shoe-removing tool to separate the shoe from the last, said supporting mechanism being constructed and arranged .to cause said shoeremoving tool :to yield first to the first-mentioned component to insure operative engagement between :the shoe-removing tool and the shoe-and then to yield to the secondmentioned component to 'separatethe :shoe from the last.

7. A machine for separating shoes :from lasts comprisinga support fora last witha shoe thereon, a friction member, acarrier for said friction member, a support for said carrier, said carrier support being movable ina direction :to bringsaid friction member into engagement with the shoe and said carrier being mounted on said icarrier support for movement ofnsaidiriction member in a direction to separate theshoe from the last, a treadle, and positive connections for transmitting from said treadle to'said carrier a'force having a component directed to urge the friction member into gripping engagement with the shoe and a component directed to urge the shoe off the last, said carrier support :being constructed and arranged 'to yield before :said carrier :to "enable said friction member to engage and to press against the shoe whereupon the carrier yields and the friction member urges the shoe off the last.

8. A machine for separating shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe-engaging member, a carrier for said shoe-engaging member, a support for said carrier mounted for movement in a direction to enable said shoe-engaging member to engage the shoe, said carrier being mounted on said carrier support for movement of said shoe-engaging member ina direction of separation of the shoe from the last, a treadle, and means for transmitting from said treadle to said carrier a force having a component tending to move the shoe-engaging member into contact with the shoe with frictional gripping pressure and a component tending to move the shoe-engaging member in a direction to cause separation of the shoe from the last, said carrier support being constructed and arranged to yield to said force before said carrier to enable said shoe-engaging member first to be brought into contact with the shoe and then, when movement toward the shoe is arrested by such contact, to exert upon the shoe a force tending to remove the shoe from the last.

9. A machine for separating shoes from lasts comprising an upstanding last pin for supporting a last with a shoe thereon, a friction pad, a lever on which said friction pad is mounted, a rod pivotally connected to said lever, means for exerting through said rod upon said lever a force urging said friction pad in a direction to engage with frictional gripping pressure the rear portion of the upper and also in a direction to raise the rear portion of the shoe relatively to the last, and a movable fulcrum for said lever constructed and arranged to yield under the influence of said force in a direction to enable said pad frictionally to engage the rear portion of the shoe, whereupon said force operates to swing said lever upwardly about said fulcrum to cause said pad to raise the rear portion of the shoe relatively to the last.

10. A machine for separating lasts and shoes comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe-engageable member constructed and arranged to exert upon the shoe a force tending to move the shoe relatively to the last, a carrier upon which said shoe-engageable member is mountecL-a movable support to which said carrier is pivotally connected to enable said shoe-engageable member to follow a path determined by the last, means for operating said carrier to cause said shoe-engageable member to urge the shoe off the last, a pair of stops for limiting the operative and the return movements respectively of said movable support, and a yieldable latch for holding said carrier fixed relatively to said movable support during return movement to insure clearance between said shoe-engageable member and the last, said latch being constructed and arranged to engage upon stopping of the operative movement and to disengage upon stopping of the return movement of the movable support.

ll. A machine for separating lasts and shoes comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe-engageable member constructed and arranged to exert upon the shoe a force tending to move the shoe relatively to the last, a carrier upon which said shoe-engageable member is mounted, a movable support to which said carrier is pivotally connected, means for operating said carrier to cause said shoe-engageable member to urge the shoe off the last, and means for latching said carrier against pivotal movement relatively to said support during return movement of the carrier to assure that the carrier in its return movement will clear the last.

12. A machine for separating shoes from lasts comprising a stationary support for a last with a shoe thereon, a friction member engageable with the rear portion of the shoe upper, means for moving said friction member forwardly into engagement with the shoe, then upwardly to raise the heel end of the shoe from the last, then forwardly to push the shoe off the last, the path of which movement is determined by the last, and means for causing said friction member in its return movement to clear the last.

13. A machine for separating shoes from lasts comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a member engageable with the rear portion of the shoe upper, means for eifecting relative movement between said last support and said shoe-engageable member in a path determined by the last, said path being upward and forward relatively to the last, to cause said shoe-engageable member to raise the rear portion of the shoe relatively to the last and to push the shoe forwardly relatively to the last, and means for causing a return relative movement between said last support and said shoe-engageable member in a different path which provides clearance between the shoe-engageable member and the last.

14. A machine for separating lasts and shoes comprising a support for a last with a shoe thereon, a friction pad having a concavity adapted to engage the rear end of the shoe, a carrier for said friction pad, means for moving said carrier to cause said friction pad to operate against the shoe to urge the shoe off the last, and a guideway in said carrier in which guideway said friction pad is movable in a direction transverse to its operative movement to enable said pad to center itself relatively to the shoe.

15. A machine for separating shoes from lasts comprising a support for holding in inverted position a last with a shoe thereon, a friction pad, a carrier for said friction pad, a support for said carrier constructed and arranged to enable said carrier to move forwardly relatively to the shoe, said carrier being movable upwardly from said carrier support, a rod connected to said carrier, and means for exerting through said rod a thrust having a forward component sufiicient'to move said carrier forwardly, without raising said carrier from said carrier support, until said pad engages the rear portion of the shoe with frictional gripping pressure, said thrust having also an upward component which thereupon lifts the carrier from the carrier support and causes the pad to raise the rear portion of the shoe from the last.

16. A machine for separating shoes from lasts comprising a support for an inverted last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool normally positioned rearwardly of the last and free to move forwardly toward the last and upwardly, a rod inclined forwardly and upwardly for operating said shoe removing tool, the forward inclination of said rod being sufiicient to enable a longitudinal thrust transmitted through said rod to move the tool forwardly before raising the tool and the upward inclination serving to enable the thrust of the rod to raise the tool when forward movement of the tool is arrested, means for supporting and guiding said tool during said forward movement, and means for exerting through said rod a longitudinal thrust to cause said tool to move forwardly into operating position relatively to the rear portion of the shoe and then, upon the arrest of said forward movement, to move upwardly and thereby raise the rear portion of the shoe from the last.

17. A machine according to claim 16 wherein the operating rod is pivotally connected to the shoe removing tool.

18. A machine for separating shoes from lasts comprising a last pin for supporting in inverted position a last with a shoe thereon, a shoe removing tool, a carrier for said shoe removing tool, a stationary support along which said carrier may be moved forwardly into operating position with respect to a shoe on the last, an operating rod extending forwardly and upwardly and connected at its upper end to said carrier, and means for exerting a thrust through said rod to move said carrier first forwardly along said support into operating position and then upwardly from said support to raise the rear portion of the shoe from the last.

19. A machine for separating shoes from lasts comprising a last pin for supporting in inverted position a last with a shoe thereon, a member engageable with the shoe to move the shoe relatively to the last, a carrier for said shoe engageable member, a support along which said carrier may be moved forwardly into operating position with respect to the shoe, said carrier having a rearward portion engageable with said support, an arm pivotally connected at its upper end to a forward portion of said carrier and pivotally mounted at its lower end for swinging movement forwardly and rearwardly with respect to the shoe, and operating mechanism constructed and arranged to exert upon said carrier at a locality between that portion of the carrier which is engageable with said support and that portion which is connected to said arm a force having forward and upward components, the forward component being suflicient relatively to the upward component to move said carrier forwardly along said support without raising said carrier until the shoe engageable member has arrived at operating position and can advance no further, whereupon the upward component will swing said carrier upwardly about its pivotal connection with said arm to cause the shoe engageable member to raise the rear portion of the shoe relatively to the last.

EARL A. BESSOM. 

